On the morning of September 1, as part of the state visit by First Secretary and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Vietnam’s August Revolution and National Day, two distinguished guests - Madam Ngo Phuong Ly, spouse of General Secretary To Lam, and Madam Lis Cuesta Peraza, spouse of the Cuban leader - enjoyed a cultural stroll through the heart of Hanoi.

Their first stop was the renowned Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre on Dinh Tien Hoang Street, where the two First Ladies were treated to a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show. They were joined by a young girl of Vietnamese-Cuban descent, born and raised in Cuba.

At the theater's main hall, Madam Lis Cuesta Peraza received an introduction to the history and mechanics behind Vietnam’s unique water puppetry, a folk art form that originated from the country’s wet rice civilization.

The performance began with artists dressed as traditional "lien anh, lien chi" singing a welcoming melody while offering symbolic betel and areca to the guests. The two ladies watched various classic acts from Vietnam’s repertoire of nearly 400 traditional puppet plays, including The clown Teu greets the audience, Festival flags, Dragon dance, Phoenix dance, Fairy dance, and Returning in glory.

Water puppetry is a distinctive genre within Vietnamese folk performing arts, typically staged on water (known as a thuy dinh) with a colorful backdrop of flags, fans, and ornamental gates. The wooden puppets are masterfully operated by performers hidden behind a curtain, while live folk musicians and singers perform on either side of the water stage, adding vibrancy to the show.

Following the performance, the two ladies gave warm applause, presented flowers, and praised the artists for their dedication. The theater presented Madam Lis Cuesta Peraza with a puppet of the iconic character "Chú Tễu," while the young girl received a fairy puppet as a memento.

Madam Ngo Phuong Ly also introduced her Cuban counterpart to the art of preparing betel leaves shaped like a phoenix's wings - a traditional gesture of Vietnamese hospitality.

Visibly moved, Madam Lis Cuesta Peraza expressed her deep appreciation for the warm reception and her admiration for Vietnam’s folk artistry. She noted the heartfelt effort of the performers in preserving and developing this culturally rich art form. She also expressed her hope that Vietnamese puppeteers would one day bring this unique tradition to Cuba to share with the Cuban people.

Recalling her own visit to Cuba in September 2024, Madam Ngo Phuong Ly fondly remembered accompanying Madam Lis Cuesta Peraza to the El Arca Puppet Theater and Museum in Havana. She reflected on the shared passion for puppetry in both nations and the joy of now introducing Cuban friends to Vietnam’s signature water puppetry.

She added that she looked forward to welcoming Madam Lis Cuesta Peraza back to Vietnam to experience even more of the country's vibrant puppet traditions.

Following the theater visit, the two ladies took a leisurely walk to Ngoc Son Temple, a national historic and cultural relic located on Hoan Kiem Lake. On this public holiday, the pedestrian streets around the lake were filled with thousands of locals and tourists enjoying the festivities.

Amid Hanoi’s gentle autumn breeze, the two ladies appeared friendly and relaxed, smiling and waving at passersby. The public responded with enthusiastic applause and chants of "Vietnam - Cuba," echoing warmly along the tree-lined streets.

At Ngoc Son Temple, the two women stopped at The Huc Bridge to admire Turtle Tower and the surrounding scenery. They lit incense at the main shrine and listened to explanations about the lake’s legendary tales and the significance of the turtle specimen on display inside the temple.

In a heartfelt moment, a local calligraphy master gifted Madam Lis Cuesta Peraza a scroll bearing the word “Peace” written in traditional Vietnamese script. As their visit concluded, she once again thanked Madam Ngo Phuong Ly and the site’s staff for the gracious welcome and thoughtful hospitality.

This memorable cultural exchange between the two ladies left a deep impression, further strengthening the bond of friendship and mutual respect between Vietnam and Cuba.

Tran Thuong - Pham Hai